Holster for cell phone or device with molded acoustic vents

ABSTRACT

The holster for a cellular telephone or a personal electronic device includes a back panel and a front panel which are attached about their respective edge regions to form a capture cavity for the cell phone or device. The front panel has a smooth plastic shield region formed as a one piece shield. A plurality of acoustic vents formed as through passages are defined by the smooth plastic shield.

The present invention relates to a holster for a cellular telephone orother personal electronic device (such as a personal data assistant(PDA), MP3 player, Blackberry, Ipod, etc.) wherein the holster includesa plurality of acoustic vents to enhance the emanation of audio signals

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Holsters which carry cell phones and other personal electronic devices(identified above) commonly block or inhibit acoustic or audio soundsemanating from the cell phone or device. Holsters are generally designedto completely enclose the cell phone or device except for a top regionof the phone or device. The balance of the cell phone or device isencased by the holster for security purposes and to protect the devicefrom bumps and knocks. The cell phone or device should be entrapped bythe holster such that the device does not fall from the holster and suchthat the holster and phone or device is securely mounted on a belt,strap, purse strap or pants fabric belt. One type of prior art deviceutilized a front panel and a rear panel and both panels included a metalrivet with a plurality of holes through the rivet. The rivet extendedthrough the holster panel and also protruded above the surface of thepanel. This prior art device was inadequate because the metal rivetwould scrape and mar the cell phone or device captured by the holsterand also cause fraying and deterioration of the holster panel due to theraised aspect of the rivet above the surfacing panel. In other words,the user would bump and scrap the outside of the panel thereby catchingthe rivet on objects, doorways and walls and this impact on walls anddoors caused (a) cell phone deterioration and (b) holster deteriorationdue to fraying by the rivet. Other prior art devices simply includefabric holsters which have a plurality of holes through the fabric.These holes through the fabric, after extended use, deteriorate andfray. The frayed material then covers and closes the holes aftercontinued use. The frayed material muffles the sounds from the cellphone.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a holster for a cellphone or other personal electronic device which has a plurality ofacoustic vents formed in a smooth plastic shield region on the frontpanel of the holster.

It is another object of the present invention to provide acoustic ventswhich do not protrude above the smooth plastic shield panel portion.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide acousticvents which are molded into the plastic shield thereby eliminatingfraying and deterioration due to constant use (insertion and removal ofthe cell phone or other device in the holster).

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide aplurality of acoustic vents in a group in the smooth plastic shield andfurther include a stress relief channel about the grouped acousticvents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The holster for a cellular telephone or a personal electronic deviceincludes a back panel and a front panel which are attached about theirrespective edge regions to form a capture cavity for the cell phone ordevice. The front panel has a smooth plastic shield region formed as aone piece shield. A plurality of acoustic vents formed as throughpassages are defined by the smooth plastic shield.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further objects and advantages of the present invention can be found inthe detailed description of the preferred embodiments when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrates the holster carrying a cell phone orother device;

FIG. 2 diagrammatically illustrates a cross-sectional view of the smoothplastic shield and a plurality of acoustic vents;

FIG. 3 diagrammatically illustrates a holster with a differentconfiguration of the acoustic vents and further illustrates a stressrelief channel about the acoustic vent area;

FIG. 4 diagrammatically illustrates the acoustic vents formed aselongated cut-outs in the smooth plastic shield; and

FIG. 5 diagrammatically illustrates acoustic vents having a differentshape.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to a holster for a cellular telephone orother personal electronic device (identified above) which includes aplurality of acoustic vents to promote the emanation of audio soundsfrom the cell phone or device while the cell phone or device is in theholster.

FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrates holster 12 retaining cell phone orother device 10 in a capture cavity 14. Capture cavity 14 is formedbetween back panel 16 and front panel 18. Front panel 18 includes twodifferent cover layers, a first cover layer or panel portion 20 and asecond cover layer or panel portion 22. The second cover layer panel isa smooth plastic shield. The smooth plastic shield 22 has an outersurface 24 which is smooth throughout its surface area.

A plurality of acoustic vents, one of which is vent 26, are integrallyformed in the smooth plastic shield 24. In FIG. 1, left and right ventregions 28, 30 are formed in the smooth plastic shield 22. The locationof vent regions 28, 30 are meant to correspond, in some general sense,with speaker region 32 of cell phone or device 10. Of course, theacoustic speaker region 32 of the cell phone or personal electronicdevice may be at various locations on the front surface 33 of the cellphone or device. Accordingly, FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 show various types ofacoustic vents and various groupings of the acoustic vents in the smoothplastic shield panel region 22 of front panel 18. In a preferredembodiment, panel layer 20 is coarse woven nylon that has a degree ofelasticity to stretch to enhance the grip capabilities of the panel andcapture cavity 14 between front panel 18 and rear panel 16. A flip overstrap 40 may be snap attached or Velcro attached to front panel 18.Further, back panel 16 and front panel 18 may be stitched together asshown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 diagrammatically illustrates a portion of the smooth plasticshield 22 having a smooth outer surface 24 and a plurality of acousticvents 31 a-31 d. Since the vents are formed by direct molding with thesmooth plastic shield, there is little or no opportunity for the eventsto fray during use.

FIG. 3 diagrammatically illustrates another embodiment of the holster12. In FIG. 3, front panel 18 includes a top edge 50, side edges 52, 54,and a bottom edge 56. Back panel 16 includes top edge 55, side edges 57,59 and a bottom edge which is attached to bottom edge 56 of front panel18. Respective side edges 52, 57 of the top panel and the back panel areattached together as are side edges 59, 54 of the back panel and thefront panel. The top edges 50, 55 are generally spaced apart to form amouth for the capture cavity. Cell phone or device 10 is inserted intothe capture cavity by insertion through the mouth between top edges 20,55.

The synthetic cloth panel portion 20 of top panel 18 is generallydisposed in a central and an upper region and smooth plastic shieldpanel portion 22 is disposed in lower portion 60 of front panel 18. Aplurality of acoustic vents, one of which is vent 26, is disposed in aquarter moon configuration in lower region 60 of front panel 18. Thequarter moon configuration enhances the probability that the vents willbe atop the speaker element of the cell phone or device. Further, smoothplastic shield 22 includes a stress relief channel 62 which may assistin promoting the emanation of audio signals through the acoustic vents(the relief channel may direct the sound waves to the vent regions) andalso assist in permitting the lower portion 60 of front panel 18 toexpand or move outward when the user forces cell phone or device 10 deepinto the capture channel. Of course, the lower edge of the cell phone ordevice 10 is disposed in the lower region 60 of the capture channel asdiagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 1. The continual insertion,withdraw and subsequent insertion of the cell phone or device wouldweaken the smooth plastic shield 22 disposed in lower region 60 of frontpanel 18. Stress relief channel reduces the concentration of forces tospecific locations.

As shown in FIG. 2, the acoustic vents are smooth and do not protrudeabove the top surface of the plastic panel. This feature is shown inFIG. 3 also.

FIG. 4 diagrammatically illustrates another embodiment of the presentinvention. In FIG. 4, acoustic vents are configured as elongated slits,one of which is slit or cut-out channel 70. Stress relief channel 62 isalso formed in the smooth plastic shield 22 about the plurality ofacoustic vents formed as slits in lower region 60 of front panel 18.

FIG. 5 diagrammatically illustrates another embodiment of holster 12wherein inverted V-shaped cut-outs form the acoustic vents, one of whichis vent 32, in smooth plastic shield panel portion 22.

The claims appended hereto are meant to cover modifications and changeswithin the scope and spirit of the present invention.

1. A holster for a cellular telephone or personal electronic devicecomprising: a back panel; a front panel having edge regions attached tosaid back panel to form a capture cavity therebetween for said cellphone or personal electronic device therein, said front panel having asmooth plastic shield region formed as a one-piece, integral shield withsaid front panel; and a plurality of acoustic vents formed as throughpassages in said shield region.
 2. A holster as claimed in claim 1wherein said back panel and said front panel each have a respective topedge, opposing side edges and a bottom edge, respective side edgesjoined together and said respective bottom edges joined together andsaid respective top edges spaced apart to form a mouth for said capturecavity.
 3. A holster as claimed in claim 2 wherein said one-piece,integral shield region is disposed at least in a lower region spacedfrom said top edge of said front panel such that audio signals from saidcell phone or personal electronic device emanate through said acousticvents.
 4. A holster as claimed in claim 1 wherein said one-piece,integral shield region has a top surface and said acoustic vents do notprotrude above said top surface.
 5. A holster as claimed in claim 4wherein said acoustic vents are grouped near each other in saidone-piece, integral shield region and said one-piece, integral shieldregion includes a stress relief channel about said grouped acousticvents.
 6. A holster as claimed in claim 1 wherein said front panelincludes a synthetic fabric panel attached to said one-piece, integralshield region.
 7. A holster as claimed in claim 3 wherein saidone-piece, integral shield region has a top surface and said acousticvents do not protrude above said top surface.
 8. A holster as claimed inclaim 7 wherein said acoustic vents are grouped near each other in saidone-piece, integral shield region and said one-piece, integral shieldregion includes a stress relief channel about said grouped acousticvents.
 9. A holster as claimed in claim 8 wherein said front panelincludes a synthetic fabric panel attached to said one-piece, integralshield region.
 10. A holster for a cellular telephone or personalelectronic device comprising: a back panel; a front panel made of twodifferent cover layers and said front panel having edge regions attachedto said back panel to form a capture cavity therebetween for said cellphone or personal electronic device therein, one of said two differentcover layers being a smooth plastic shield formed as a one-piece,integral shield with the other of said two different cover layersforming said front panel; and a plurality of acoustic vents formed asthrough passages in said smooth plastic shield.
 11. A holster as claimedin claim 10 wherein said back panel and said front panel each have arespective top edge, opposing side edges and a bottom edge, respectiveside edges joined together and said respective bottom edges joinedtogether and said respective top edges spaced apart to form a mouth forsaid capture cavity.
 12. A holster as claimed in claim 11 wherein saidsmooth plastic shield is disposed at least in a lower region of saidfront panel and spaced from said top edge of said front panel such thataudio signals from said cell phone or personal electronic device emanatethrough said acoustic vents.
 13. A holster as claimed in claim 10wherein said smooth plastic shield has a top surface and said acousticvents do not protrude above said top surface.
 14. A holster as claimedin claim 13 wherein said acoustic vents are grouped near each other insaid smooth plastic shield and shield includes a stress relief channelabout said grouped acoustic vents.
 15. A holster as claimed in claim 10wherein said other of said two different cover layers is a syntheticfabric cover panel attached to said smooth plastic shield.
 16. A holsteras claimed in claim 10 wherein said smooth plastic shield has a topsurface and said acoustic vents do not protrude above said top surface.17. A holster as claimed in claim 16 wherein said acoustic vents aregrouped near each other in said smooth plastic shield and shieldincludes a stress relief channel about said grouped acoustic vents. 18.A holster as claimed in claim 17 wherein said other of said twodifferent cover layers is a synthetic fabric cover panel attached tosaid smooth plastic shield.
 19. A holster as claimed in claim 9 whereinsaid plurality of acoustic vents are dispersed in a quarter moon shapeabout said lower region.
 20. A holster as claimed in claim 18 whereinsaid plurality of acoustic vents are dispersed in a quarter moon shapeabout said lower region.